IIHS small overlap crash test: Multiple cars

"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/12/2015 at 10:23 • Filed to: crash test

We’ll star T with the 2015 Jeep Wrangler 4 door. Result: Good

2015 Dodge Durango. Result: Marginal

2015 Dodge Journey. Result: POOR!

2015 Nissan Murano. Result: Good

2015 Jeep Cherokee. Result: Marginal (Should of been HORRID!!! )

2015 Ford Flex. Result: Acceptible

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe. Result: Marginal

2015 Chevrolet Sonic. Result: Good

(Videos courtesy of the IIHS and Youtube)

DISCUSSION (47)

fhrblig > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 10:26

It’s weird. You’d think the Wrangler would do poorly in that test since it doesn’t have the structure of a full roof.

EL_ULY > fhrblig
05/12/2015 at 10:29

I think it wasn’t as centered as it should have been. It just slid off

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > fhrblig
05/12/2015 at 10:31

But the frame structure has to be quite strong since they designed the doors to be removable as well as the roof. With no hard top, the wrangler has to pass all its safety tests like every other car with a fixed roof and doors that are part of the crash structure. So I would hope that this test would show off how sturdy the chassis is.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 10:31

We’ll clearly have to make our A-pillars bigger now. They need to extend all of the way to the front fender, across the entire windshield, and extend back at least as far as the B-pillar.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > fhrblig
05/12/2015 at 10:31

Has a ladder frame though. That might have helped.

EL_ULY > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
05/12/2015 at 10:33

XC90 has the trend going now

Kinja'd!!!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 10:35

Front bumper out of aluminum? Hopefully it can be unbolted.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 10:36

Do the Sonic and the Santa Fe have the same grading scale because that is pretty bad if a small car does better than an SUV.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/12/2015 at 10:36

Came here to say roughly the same thing

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 10:36

Holy crap they still make the flex?

Racescort666 > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 10:38

Cool. Thanks for sharing. Slow day at work, I think this counts as work for me, I work in the auto industry.

EL_ULY > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
05/12/2015 at 10:39

For pedestrian safety. Also, both opposite mountings of the hood latches are made of plastic. Why? so they can act as a crumple zone if a person is struck but with dual latches, it is still very secure.

TheHondaBro > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 10:39

Holy crap the Cherokee was horrible!

EL_ULY > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/12/2015 at 10:41

There are so many variables they used for data that it could be

EL_ULY > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
05/12/2015 at 10:41

lol and Journey :]

EL_ULY > Racescort666
05/12/2015 at 10:43

lol, that’s why my bosses don’t mind when i’m off around the internet because it’s almost always automotive related :]

EL_ULY > TheHondaBro
05/12/2015 at 10:43

VERY HORRIBLE!! Worst grade ever! They need to check their math

TheHondaBro > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 10:47

I mean, the dummy completely slid off the airbag!

Bluecold > TheHondaBro
05/12/2015 at 10:47

I think the scoring is criteria-based. The Cherokee’s A pillar stayed intact, which should account for something positive. The head slid to the left, but it’s possible the driver’s legs aren’t totally mangled.

EL_ULY > TheHondaBro
05/12/2015 at 10:48

someone should make a Kinja’d GIF of how the dummy was destroyed in the wreck. It was basically about to fly out of the car in a bloody mess

EL_ULY > TheHondaBro
05/12/2015 at 10:50

Kinja'd!!!

I mean really? Fuuuuuuu! It hit the wall also

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 11:10

If you look at the overhead though, it’s right on the line it should be.

That being said, come on FCA, the Wrangler did better than the full bodied Durango?!

Firewrx234 > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 11:20

The Nissan Murano’s wheel disintegrated on impact...TERRIFYING!!! Also, big kudos to the Sonic for doing so well!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 11:23

The fender design of the Wrangler allowed it to take a glancing blow instead of the full force of the hit. I wouldn’t read in to the overall safety of this vehicle much based on this test, honestly.

EL_ULY > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/12/2015 at 11:36

I would. Too many people try to steer away from an accident which causes less brake efficiency. I know you’ve seen them, coming up to traffic and they turn off their lane. It is hardly a flat impact

EL_ULY > Firewrx234
05/12/2015 at 11:38

lol yeah that thing went flying. Sonic did good :]

EL_ULY > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
05/12/2015 at 11:39

yeah i saw the lines afterwards. And yes, that is soo true. WTF FCA

and 100 more > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/12/2015 at 11:43

Why? A smaller car carries less momentum into a crash. By rights, smaller cars should do better by default.

and 100 more > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 11:43

And the Journey still doesn’t have side airbags. I thought this was surprising.

EL_ULY > and 100 more
05/12/2015 at 11:46

it is possible they didn’t turn on... for some horrible reason lol. Some cars have had this issue in the past during this test. Bad software I think

MrPseudonym > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 11:49

We’ll star with the 2015

TYPO!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 11:50

And also marks the first time anyone ever looked at a Wrangler for better safety ratings lol

EL_ULY > MrPseudonym
05/12/2015 at 11:51

ohhh noooo!!!!

Kinja'd!!!

AHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Fixed :]

EL_ULY > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
05/12/2015 at 11:52

LOLZ!!!!!

and 100 more > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 11:54

Well, it IS pre-Fiat Chrysler, so...

horspowr1001 > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/12/2015 at 11:55

Actually the really small cars such as the Sonic and Smart Car tend to do pretty well in these tests because they literally just bounce off the other car. Rather than the energy being absorbed by crumple zones, it’s redirected to other kinetic motion.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > horspowr1001
05/12/2015 at 11:57

Ya that is good to see, still wouldn’t feel safe driving a Smart car with all these big SUV’s around

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 11:59

Watch the video of the Jeep’s collision again and then a few of the others. The Jeep continues past the barrier while the others come to a stop and rotate. They’re completely different accidents. In this very unique situation, because of the design of the fenders, the Jeep is safer, but I don’t think you can read that much into its overall safety compared to the others tested.

It’s like testing a collision with a 8” tall cinder block - once with a car with 10” of ground clearance, and once with a car with 6” of clearance. One is going to come out a lot better...

EL_ULY > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/12/2015 at 12:21

The previous XC90 and XC60 reacted the same way

Dr_Watson > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 12:32

LOL, the wrangler at 0:55 when they show the front view. The way the head lamp pops out like a cartoon eyeball is hilarious.

EL_ULY > Dr_Watson
05/12/2015 at 12:36

lol oh yeah! It follows the trajectory :] Also, check out the wheel of the Nissan Murano at 0:13 seconds

Dr_Watson > TheHondaBro
05/12/2015 at 12:45

How does the new Cherokee not have a side curtain?

PS9 > EL_ULY
05/12/2015 at 13:11

He ded

EL_ULY > PS9
05/12/2015 at 13:13

a lot!

FastIndy > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/12/2015 at 14:11

The same standards apply, but the larger vehicle’s own weight works against it in the test. There’s just more energy to dissipate.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/v…

drdude > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/12/2015 at 17:06

not important to this test, but for the record... any vehicle made in north america with doors designed to be removed by the end user.... do not have to meet side impact standards. The jeep wrangler is the only vehicle that qualifies for that.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > drdude
05/12/2015 at 18:10

I had heard that. Interestingly enough, the BMW Z1 with the “drop doors” had very good crash test results with the doors down and so you are legally allowed to drive one in Europse with the doors down.

But the wrangler is an odd vehicle in terms of safety. Either you’re dead or you’re unharmed from the looks of things.